Means for demonstrating and recording relative motion between objects



Feb. 9, 1954 H. a. TRIMBLE MEANS FOR DEMONSTRATING AND RECORDING RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN OBJE CTS Filed NOV. 29, 1950 Ill/l INVENTOR: Howard Benson Trimble,

fl /z/QW ATTORNEY Fig.3

Patented Feb, 9, 1954 MEANS FOR DEMONSTRATING AND'REr- CORDING RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN OBJECTS Howard Benson Trimble, Nashville, Tenn. Application November 29, 1950, Serial No. 198,091

My invention relates to a demonstration apparatus of the type in which scale-models of objects are movably held by magnets, or by gravity, on a surface representing a scene or locality of the action to be demonstrated.

Prior-art demonstrators of this general type have proven only partially satisfactory for showing the beginning or the end of a pattern of relative movements, but have not been satisfactory for a complete showing of the motion-pattern, even during the demonstration. Moreover, priorart devices of this type did not provide for making permanent records of the actions demonstrated, vwhich'recordswould be of great value for later study or review, as, for example, an appeal from a trafiic-court ruling on a highway-accident.

' Objects of invention Accordingly, it isan object of my invention to provide a demonstration apparatus having means associated therewith for making permanent records of the actions demonstrated thereon.

It is another object to make the record-preserving means easily and conveniently placeable and removable from the apparatus.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide such an apparatus with movable models or pieces having means selectively and easily operable to make continuous records of movements of the models or specific parts thereof, as desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

Detailed description In the'drawings forming a part of this speci- 3 flcation and in which like reference characters refer to likeparts thruout thesveral views:

' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in operative position and condition.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of one of the model automobiles shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view in elevation of the model car of Fig. 2 taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a model piece 6 Claims. (01. 35-7) or the like, supported in anywell-knownmanner between the support members 1.; Thememhers I carry trunnion-forming protuberances 8 for engagement within the tubular opening usually present in such rolls of paper. Along the edge of the panel I and adjacent the roll 6, there is provided a conventional serrated tear-"ofiirod or bar 9. Along the opposite edge of pans I is a second like tear-off bar Ill. Said bars may be pressed against the plate 3 by conventional means, such as springs, or wing-nuts I l as shown.

The panel 3 is preferably lined to a selected scale, as is shown at 2, where the corner of the sheet of paper I3 is torn away. The lines are preferably. black or of a dark color on a background of white or light color, whereby unlined translucent paper may be used, with the graph lines 12 of the plate 3 showing therethrough;

The panel 3 could also be made ferro magnetic by adding iron filings or wire to a sheet of cardboard, plywood, etc. 1 i

As shown in Fig. 1 the paper may be substantially opaque and have thereon graph-like scale" lines l4. As shown in Fig. 1 the lines 14 may be used to assist in drawing a street intersection, or the. like, .to scale, and vehicles such as l5 (also to scale) may be placedthereon to demon-:

strate traffic accidents or occurrences.

The scalev models may simulate an automobile [5,. a's-in Fig.3; a military tank. [5a, as in Fig. 4; or a checker-like object [5b, as in Fig.15, the distinctiveness of which would be indicated by words or symbols, such as L. G. to designate Left Guard, etc.

The model automobile I-5 of Fig. 3 comprises a body It of wood, plastic or other suitable material. Centrally of the bottom there is provided a recess ll, into which a magnetic body I8 is snugly but slidably received. The magnetic body is is normally held slightly protruding from the bore I! by a member 19 of resilient; material, such as rubber or other spring'-likematerial, which is fastened to the top surfaces of-the bore i1 and of the magnet l8. a downward pressure on the car l5 will force the body I8 upwardly into the recess 11', for-a purpose to be described later. The bottom of the car l5 By this construction is provided with from one to four vertically extending recesses 20 into each of which may be inserted a pencil or other marking device 2|. These pencils may be held in adjusted position either by a close frictional fit in said recesses, or by other suitable means, such as set-screws 25, which may have enlarged heads 24 simulating head and taillights as shown. The bores 22 may be provided with smaller-gage extensions 22 for the insertion of a pin or push rod for adjusting the position of the markers 2 l The pencils 2! are preferablylocated at points corresponding to mid-pointsof the areasof contact between the tires and a road surface, Whereby upon application of a force downwardly on the model car and upon a demonstration-movement of the downwardly pressed model across a recordpreserving sheet l3, a permanent record of the path followed by each Wheel is produced. Each pencil or pair of pencils may be of a different color, if desired, according to a code.

In 4 the model 250. simulates a military tank. Gther models obviously may represent guns, battleships, aeroplanes, etc.

In Fig. 5 there is disclosed a disk-like piece 15b which is suitable for representing players in a sports-game, such as football for example.

It should also be noted that the markers need not be placed in the bottom surface of the models,

but could be located on other surfaces thereof or be omitted altogether, making part i9 dispensable.

M ode of operation When it is desired to use my apparatus for making a record-preserving demonstration of relative movements of a plurality of objects, represented by models or pieces, a sheet of paper 3', which may bepulled fromthe roll 5, is placed so as to overlie sheet .3, as shown in Fig. 1, and isthen clamped in such position by the bars 9 and H3, as described above. Assisted'by the lines it .on the sheet of paper I3 (or if said sheet is unlined and is translucent, by the lines 12 on the plate 3) the operator will draw lines to represent curbs, hills, game-court markers, etc., to a desired scale. Then objects, such as car .15. tank IE0. or football player [51), are placed in their initial positions on the panel l, against which they are held .by the magnets. 18, or by gravity. The outline of the models in their initial positions may, if desired, be traced with apencil or other marker. The models are then moved througha demonstration path to theirfinal position, with or without line-producing pressure on the models. Such line-producing pressure may be deferred until substantial agreement is reached as to the path followed by each model, and then be made by pressure and movement, as previously described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A demonstration piece for use with a demonstration surface having ferro-magnetic properties, comprising: a body, a magnet associated with and defining a bottom surface of said body, a yieldable means interposed between said body and said .Inagnet, .andmarker means on the bottom of said body, lying slightly above the bottom surface of said magnet, whereby a downward pressure on said body will cause said marker means to contact a record-preserving surface for. marking the same.

2. A demonstration piece according to claim 1 and in which 'said yieldable means comprises a layer vof resilient material adhesively connected to said body and to said magnet on its opposite faces.

3. A demonstration piece according to claim 1 and in which said marker means are rod-shaped members lying in vertical channels and adjustable therein.

4. A demonstration piece according to claim 3 and additionally comprising: small bores alined with said channels for receiving an adjusting rod.

5. A demonstration piece according-to claim 4 and additionally comprising set-screws for holding said marker means in adjusted positions.

6. A piece for demonstrating relative motions between objects on a demonstrationsurface,comprising: a body member, supportymeans attached to said body member for engaging a surface to hold said body in normal resting relationthereto but permitting motion thereof along said surface, yieldable means acting between said body member and said support means so as to urge said body member away from said surface, at least one marker attached to said body and normally held out of contact with said surface bysaid yieldable means, said body bein "thereby selectively manipulatable to bring said at least one marker into engagement with, said surface to produce record-preservingmarkings thereon.

HOWARD BENSON TRIMBLE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 580,513 Shelton Apr. 13, 1897 2,079,257 Kaiser May 4, 1&3? 2,459,150 Crane Jan. 18', 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 428,952 Great Britain May 22,- 1935 484,851 Great Britain May 11, 1938 532,950 Germany Sept. '7, 1931 

